A HISTORIC building is set to be brought back to life after a £264,000 charity fundraising effort.

Interim Spaces, a charity that transforms otherwise empty commercial properties into cultural venues and workspaces, has secured funding to purchase, renovate, and activate 10 Market Place, in Shepton Mallet.

The funds, which have already secured the purchase of the premises, are now financing renovation work at the Grade II listed site, converting it into a rent-free retail lab for testing ideas on the High Street, and a hire space on the second floor for free and affordable classes in music and the arts.

The front page of the website promoting the 10 Market Place project

Dan Simon, director of Interim Spaces, said: “This funding enables us to rejuvenate a historic building while providing a vital platform for innovators to test new ideas.

“High streets across the UK are in desperate need of revitalisation, and initiatives that allow businesses to innovate in retail settings serves as a progressive step towards that objective.

“We are hugely grateful to our funders and the support we have received from Shepton Mallet Town Council.”

The renovation works began in October and include much-needed repair work to the roof and oriel bay window, as well as the restoration of some original features.

Lime Repair Ltd, who are listed building specialists based in the town, are carrying out the renovations, with the project set to be fully operational by April 2024.

Julie Haddow and Lime Repair Ltd; Below left: Dan Simon; Below centre: Wayne Ollis and No.21 Painting

Amelia Thompson, senior programmes manager at the Somerset Community Foundation – who manage Somerset Social Enterprise Fund (SSEF) – said: “Thanks to funding from Somerset Council and the Access Foundation’s Growth Fund, we were delighted to award Interim Spaces £120,000, which consisted of an £80,000 loan and £40,000 grant.

“We’re very excited to see how the project develops, creating new opportunities for local residents and helping the development of Shepton Mallet’s town centre.”

For more information on the upcoming project, and for those wishing to apply for either the retail unit or hire space, log on to www.10marketplace.uk.